Gambian president wins 3rd term

BANJUL- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh easily won a third five-year term amid lower-than-expected voter turnout, according to official results.

Jammeh received 67 per cent of the vote, compared with 27 per cent for main opposition candidate Ousainou Darboe and 6 per cent for Halifa Sallah, Joseph Colley, head of communications for the electoral commission announced Saturday. The results were also read out on state radio and television, and welcomed at a gigantic beach victory party attended by thousands of Jammeh supporters wearing his green campaign colours.”My vision is to make the Gambia one of the best countries on earth and not only in Africa,” Jammeh told supporters after the win was confirmed.Voter turnout was about 59 per cent, much lower than the 87 per cent who turned out in the 2001 presidential election, Colley said.Close to 670 000 of Gambia’s 1,6 million people are registered to vote.”There is an apparent voter apathy,” Saja Taal, a member of an independent committee of civic groups analysing results, said.The victory was widely expected following the adoption of a constitutional amendment that awarded the presidency to the candidate with the largest share of votes – no matter how slim the margin.Gambia has no term limits for the presidency.Nampa-APThe results were also read out on state radio and television, and welcomed at a gigantic beach victory party attended by thousands of Jammeh supporters wearing his green campaign colours.”My vision is to make the Gambia one of the best countries on earth and not only in Africa,” Jammeh told supporters after the win was confirmed.Voter turnout was about 59 per cent, much lower than the 87 per cent who turned out in the 2001 presidential election, Colley said.Close to 670 000 of Gambia’s 1,6 million people are registered to vote.”There is an apparent voter apathy,” Saja Taal, a member of an independent committee of civic groups analysing results, said.The victory was widely expected following the adoption of a constitutional amendment that awarded the presidency to the candidate with the largest share of votes – no matter how slim the margin.Gambia has no term limits for the presidency.Nampa-AP